Automatic timer and control unit



Feb. 3, 1959 E. J. BUTLER 2,

AUTOMATIC TIMER AND CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 14, 1956 3 SheetsSheet l FIGI HG 2 EDWARD J. BUTLER Feb. 3, 1959 E. J. BUTLER 2,871,938

AUTOMATIC TIMER AND CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. BUTLER Feb. 3, 1959 E. J. BUTLER AUTOMATIC TIMER AND CONTROL UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 INVHVTOR.

EDWARD J. BUTLER FIG. 6

nited States AUTQMATIC TEMER AND C(PNTRGL UNH Edward J. Butler, Seekonk, Mass.

Application December 14, 1956, Serial No. 628,353

11 (Ilaims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates to an automatic time control and reminder and it is an important object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which may control the operation of various electrical circuits and the equipment connected therewith over an extended period of time.

it is a further object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which is capable of compensating for the progressive changes in the length of day and night relationships, whereby various circuits may be opened or cioscd over the daytime or nighttime hours only of any given day or days as desired.

it is a further objectto provide such a mechanism in which the circuits of the control switches are associated with each other in a manner whereby one said switch will determine the general period of time over which a particular circuit is closed and a further switch in said circuit will then be operated to determine the exact period within such general time over which the circuit is closed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel arrangement of timing chain having one or more series of cam elements thereon for controlling electrical switches associated with the respective series.

A particular feature of the invention resides in the structure of the said chain whereby the cam elements thereof are movable selectively between operative and inoperative positions, and are capable offorming a continuous cam surface. Further features consist in the specific arrangement of chain and cam structures as hereinafter described in detail. Still further incidental objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of housing containing the invention in its preferred form.

. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the housing with the hinged front door thereof open to give a general view of the mechanism contained in the housing, the door being shown fragmentarily.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the main working portions or mechanisms contained in the housing. I

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the switch elements: of the invention.

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged front-elevation of a portion of the timing chain of-theinvention and one of the sprockets around which the chainin guided.

1 Figure 6 is art-enlarged side elevation of a portion of the timing chain. v

Figure '7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the links of the timing chaini and.

"FigurelS is a-se'ction on the line 8--8 of Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the mechanisniof -thef inventioni is preferably housed in a casnig n shown in Figures 1' and 2 of the drawings, access to tli e intc'rior of theorising being through a hinged door 11 which is closed in Figure l, but which may be opened as indicated in Figure 2 to permit ready access to the mechanism within the casing.

The door it may carry such appurtenances as the thermostat l2 and the combined calendar and memorandum 13 as shown in Figure 1. A clock dial 14 within the casing is visible through an opening 15 in the hinged door which registers with the dial when the door is closed.

As is best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the timing mechanism comprises a main timing shaft Zilwhich is driven from a usual clock motor 21. A pinion 22 the motor shaft meshes with a gear 23 keyed on the same shaft 37 with a pinion 23, which in turn meshes with a gear 24 on the timing shaft 20 to rotate the siren Jr at a constant speed.

desirable, but not essential, to provide a timing diai 25 fixedly supported in the casing concentrically to shaft 2% to cooperate with the indicator mechanism on the shaft as hereinafter specified. Preferably, the dial 335 is calibrated in terms of the 24 hours of the day and is provided with a shaded or other distinctively designated area 26 which roughly indicates the hours of darkness of each day, although it is recognized that this can be d with no great degree of exactness due to the varil in the length of the days of the year. i ounted on the shaft 2% for rotation hereon are a ser es ofdisks or elements 27 and 28 which are preferah separated by spacers 29 of frictional material. A COil spring 3% compressed axially between the disk 27 adjacent to the front end of the shaft 20 and a washer or abutment 31 on the said shaft maintains the several disks 2.? and in frictional engagement with each other and with a driving disc 29' fixed on the shaft 24 in spaced re.ation to the dial 25. The washer 31 may abut against a horseshoe type retainer 32 adjacent to the forward end of the shaft. By virtue of the fact that the several discs 27, 28 and 29 are rotatable on the shaft 2% and are compressed into frictional engagement with each other and with driving discs 29', it will be apparent that all of the several discs will normally rotate with the shaft 21?. However, their frictional inter-engagement and thus their frictional driving connection with the shaft 20 is such as will permit relative angular adjustment of the several discs 27 and 28 whenever desired.

Preferably the timing shaft 20 is hollow or tubular and the minute hand 33 and the hour hand 34 which cooperate with clock dial 14 are carried by shafts 35 and 36 extending coaxially within the tubular shaft 26. it will be seen that the minute hand is carried on the innermost shaft 35 and is driven from the clock motor through a gear 38 on shaft 37 in mesh with a driven pinion 39 on shaft 35. The hour hand 34 which is carried by tubular shaft 36 also is driven from the clock motor through a pinion 4-6 on shaft 37, in mesh with gear 41 which in turn is fixed to shaft 36.

in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, one or more switch mechanisms are driven from the timing shaft-iii, these being generally designated by the reference characters A, B and C in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The mechanism A which is the first to be described comprises one or more switches 52 and 42' which are positioned for actuation and control by radial arms 4-3 and 44 carried by discs 27 for rotation with the timing shaft Zti. in the instant application the several radial arms 43% are adapted to close the switches associated therewith and will thus be referred to as the switch-closing arms, while the arms 44 are adapted for opening of their associated switches andwill thus be referred to as the switch-opening arms. However, it should be realized that the function of these arms may be readily reversed and the proposed designation of the respective arms 43 and 44 is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

The switches 42 and 42', positioned for actuation by the several arms 43 and 4-4, may be of any conventional types, although for purposesof illustration these are shownas identical mercury switches adapted for actuation by bodily tilting.

Since the several switches 42 and 42 as above men tioned are identical it will suflice to describe but one of them in detail. As is best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, such a switch is comprised of the usual glass or plastic housing H mounted in a switch supporting yoke 45 of spring wire pivotally mounted at 46 in a support bracket 47 which extends upwardly from the support base 4h for theseveral switches. A spring latch 49 which is normally biased toward latching position through its own inherent resiliency, has a detent portion 50, normally loperatively engaged with a control arm 51 from the .yoke 45 to maintain the associated yoke and switch in a closed position against the action of a coil spring 52 which tends to open the switch. Opening movement of the switch will be limited by a stop 53 which may constitute an integral part of the bracket 47 which supports the switch.

It will be seen that the spring latch 49 is provided with a curved cam portion 54 which is adapted and positioned for engagementwith its associated switch-opening arm 44. Thus by its rotary movement this arm 44 will engage the cam portion 54 to release the latch and permit the switch to move to open position by the action of its spring 52.

For positioning the switch in its closed and latched position, the arm 51 is provided with a laterally projected resetting portion 55 extending into the path of movement of its associated switch-closing arm 43. The control arm 51 of the said switch is so positioned relative to the cam portion 54 of its spring latch 49 that when the switch is moved to closed position its arm 51, by engagement with the cam portion 54, will deflect the spring latch 49 until it rides above the detent portion 50 thereof, whereupon the resilient action of the spring latch will snap it into operating position with its detent portion 50 below and in latching engagement with the arm 51, thus maintaining the switch in its closed position.

Theforegoing arrangement of the switch mechanism A constitutes no portion of the instant invention per se, but is thus described merely in order to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. Said mechanism A is substantially described in my co-pending application Serial No. 617,572, filed October 22, 1956.

For the purpose of controlling any suitable electric circuit such as the circuit of a visual or audible reminder or indicator device, there may be provided a microswitch 56., Such switch is energized by actuation of its arm '7 positioned in the path of the rotary movement of control arm 58 carried by one of the discs 28 on timing shaft 20. The arrangement is such that when the arm 58 rotates into engagement with the switch-closing arm or element 57, the microswitch will be closed to energize its associated circuit and the indicator or reminder mechanism therein.

The aforementioned microswitch and its associated control means have been designated B in the accompanying drawings.

The timing mechanism C controls one or more switches 61, 62, through a flexible timing element or cam means, preferably in the form of a sprocket chain 60 comprised of a series of connected links. Switches 61 and 62 are preferably supported in the housing on a bracket 63 m a position for cooperation with the cam chain 60. In addition theremay be provided a microswitch 64 also suitably positioned in the casing for control by the cam chain 60.

It will be seen that the chain 60, when adapted to 0 trol the several switches over a greatly extended period of time may be of considerable length. Accordingly and in order to conserve space, chain 60 is driven in an endless circuit from a plurality of sprockets 65 to 74 inclusive (Figure 2) which are arranged to guide the chain in a series of reverse bends whereby it may have a series of reversely moving runs extending generally parallel to each other.

By reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the flexible timing chain 6i) is driven from the clock motor 21 through gears 22, 23, and 24 which have been earlier described. Gear 24 in turn meshes with a gear 75 which is in driving relation with gear 76, having a drive sprocket 79 coaxially fixed thereto in driving engagement with the chain 60. Gears 75 and 76 are rotatably supported on shafts 77 and 73 in the housing.

The switches 61 and 62 are both substantially identical with the switches 42 earlier described. Both of these may be mercury switches, tiltable independently about their mounting 63. However, they differ from the switches 42 primarily in that they are biased toward open position by their associated springs 80 and are normally urged toward closed position by engagement with the timing chain. c

To this. end a series of cam elements 81 in relative alignment lengthwise of the chain 60 engages a control arm 82 from switch 61. A separate series of cam elements 83 similarly in alignment lengthwise of the chain engages control arm 84 from switch 62 to control the opening and closing of the latter switch.

If desired, an additional series of cam elements 85 may cooperate with a control arm 86 of micro-switch 64 to energize the latter at desired times.

. As is best shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, the timing chain 60 comprises a plurality of separate links 90 which are flexibly interconnected in the form of a closed loop for movement in an endless circuit about the several sprockets 65 to 74 inclusive. Each link in the preferred embodiment comprises a main link portion 91, best-shown. in Figure 7, which is apertured at 92 for reception of the sprocket teeth. In order to avoid interference of the several cam elements 81, 83 and 85 with the sprockets, these elements may be carried on a mounting plate 93 which extends substantially at right an; gles from one side edge of the main link portion 91. The several links of the chain may be flexibly interconnected by the small closed links 94 as shown, or in any other suitable manner; in the embodiment shown the links 94 connect the mounting portions 93 of the chain. These portions are preferably arcuately curved at their end edges 95 to permit their relative movement without interference with each other.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, each of the cam elements 81, 83 and 85 in the preferred embodiment is in the form of a U-shaped metal element formed from a continuous length of metal of rectangular cross-section. One leg 81a, 83a and 85a of each such element is secured pivotally to its mounting plate 93 by means of spring clips 97 to function in cooperation with said spring clips and thus unite its associated cam element to the chain link.

The cam elements of each of the series 81, 83 and 85 -.have their legs 81a, 83a, and 8512, as the case may be,

extending in alignment with each other lengthwise of V 8, In each position of each cam element, it will be seenthat the spring clips 97 associated therewith are pressed flat against one of theflat faces of the pintle as ess portion din, 53a 01 35a of the element, thereby retaining it in such position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention there are provided two adjoining links 90 for each day of the year. One of these will representthe daylight hours of a particular day, while the other one will represent the hours of darkness of that particular day. By reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that each of the several links may have identifying data thereon as, for instance, the first initial of the month which it represents, the particular day of that month, and a distinctive letter such as N or D to indicate whether the link represents the daytime or nighttime hours of that day.

Inasmuch as various electrical devices such as street lighting systems, signs, and the like, will normally be turned on only during the hours of darkness of each day, the lengths of the cam elements of each link will be proportionate to the'number of hours of darkness or daylight of the particular day and portion thereof repre sented by the said link; thus, the lengths of the difierent cam elements will vary progressively in each of the several links in accordance with the progressively varying lengths of the daytime and nighttime hours of the days throughout the year.

In the switch arrangement shown, the cam elements of each series will be so proportioned that adjoining cam elements, when operatively positioned, will provide a continuous cam surface so that such cam elements may cooperate with their associated switch arms to maintain the switches in either open or closed position continuously over any desired period.

In order to provide such a continuous cam surface, it will be seen that the trailing end of each cam element must terminate abreast of the leading edge of the immediately following cam element. It is therefore desirable to laterally bend or deflect the trailing ends of the respective cam elements as in portions 81b, 33b, and 85b in Figure 7 in such a manner as to avoid interference between the trailing and leading ends of cam elements of the same series when the chain is bent in passing around a sprocket as in Figure 5.

While the several electrical switches controlled by the mechanisms above described may function independently of each other to control various devices or circuits, it is desirable to interconnect and interrelate the functioning of certain of these switches in a manner which will make possible the opening or closing of a given circuit at a predetermined time of a preselected day, Thus, referring to the particular circuit shown by way of exemplification, both of the switches 42 have their leads 99 connected in parallel in a main power supply circuit ltltl whereby suitable devices, not shown, connected in series in said leads of either switch may be energized and de-energized at a predetermined time through actuation of the switch by its associated arms 43 and 44 of the mechanism A. The switch 61 of the switch system or mechanism C, however, is connected in series in the circuit Hit) by means of its leads 162 so that switch 61 functions as a master switch with relation to switches 42. Therefore it will be seen that by presetting the cam elements 31 of the chain as to close the switch 61 over a predetermined day or portion thereof, it will be possible to set control arms 43 and 44 of each of the subservient switches 42 to ascertain the specific period of time of that day in hours and minutes over which each of these switches will be closed and opened to energize its respective circuit.

In the embodiment shown, the third switch 42 is connected in the circuit 1% by wires Frill. and lit in a manner to bypass switch 61 and thus be independent thereof, the switch 42' controlling its own circuit as designated by the arrow heads 1%. The switch 62 similarly is independently connected in parallel in power circuit iiitl by leads 1nd in such a manner that it may control a circuit 105.

It will be seen that the switch thus can control its circuit 1% to open or close the same as determined by its associated cam elements 33 at the end or beginning of any daytime or nighttime period of any day of the year.

The switch 42 will repeatedly energize its associated circuit 103 over the same period each day as long as the 5 setting of its control arms 43 and 44 remains unchanged, and as long as the cams 8i maintain switch 61 closed.

The switch 64 is connected parallel to the power circuit 100 by leads 1% to control a circuit 107 to any suitable device. This and also the micro-switch 56 may actuate suitable indicators or reminder mechanisms of either the audible or visible type at desired times as determined by the setting of their respective control cams 85 as to the switch 64 or by control arm 58 as to the switch 56.

It will thus be readily apparent that the invention is readily adaptable to a wide variety of applications and that it may be preset to control the various switches associated therewith over an extremely lengthy period, dependent, of course, on the length of the timing chain 60.

Access may be had to the cam chain 66 for manually etting the various control arms d3 and 44, 58, and control earns 81, 83 and 85 through the hinged front door of the housing it). It will be seen that the identifying data on each of the several links of the chain 6i), earlier described, will make possible the presetting of the several cam elements as desired over the entire period covered by the chain. it will be obvious from the foregoing that the clock mechanism 21 in the preferred embodiment will drive the chain at the rate of two links per day, although it is obvious that the driving rate of the chain, the disposition of the several links and their cam elements, as well as the disposition and form of the switches associated therewith may be varied as desired within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A timing chain for controlling an electric switch mechanism comprising an endless loop of flexibly interconnected chain links, rotary elements supporting said loop for movement through an endless circuit, a clock motor operatively connected in driving relation to said chain, to drive the chain through a complete circuit in a predetermined interval of time, and a series of cam elements carried by the respective links for angular movement between erected operative positions and inoperative positions about axes aligned with each other sit) and extending parallel to the movement of the chain.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the said cam elements are so proportioned in length that relatively adjoining cam elements, when in operative position, jointly form a continuous cam surface for engagement with a suitable cam follower.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a plurality of said series of cam elements carried by the links of the chain for angular movement between operative and inoperative positions.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the cam elements of each said series are of such lengths that adjoining elements when erected jointly define a continuous cam surface.

S. The combination of claim 1 wherein the cam elements of said series jointly define a continuous cam surface.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which the trailing end of each said cam element is offset laterally relative to the leading end of an immediately following cam element to avoid interferencebetween adjoining cam elements when the chain passes around a curve.

7. A timing chain comprising a series of flexibly interconnected links forming an endless loop adapted to be engaged and driven by a toothed sprocket wheel, each link comprising a main portion apertured for reception of a sprocket tooth, and a mounting plate fixed to one longitudinal edge of the main portion at an angle there- F to, in position to clear a sprocket engaged with said main 7 portion, in combination with a cam element carried by each said mounting plate for angular movement between operative and inoperative positions about an axis extending in the direction of the length of the chain.

8. The combination of claim 7 including means pivotally interconnecting adjoining ends of the respective mounting plates.

9. The combination of claim. 7 wherein each said cam element comprises a substantially rigid U-shaped member having relatively spaced legs, each said mour ing plate having means thereon rotatably supporting and frictionally engaging one of said legs, said one leg extending lengthwise of the chain to provide a pintle for said angular movement of the cam element, the other said leg of each said cam element providing a cam surface.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the free end of each said other leg is ofiset laterally relative to an adjoining such leg to avoid interference therewith as the chain moves around curves.

11. A timing chain comprising an endless loop of flexibly interconnected chain links, a plurality of rotary ele ments supporting said chain, for movement through an endless circuit, said chain being relatively reversely flexed around alternate of said elements to achieve compactness, meansdrivingsaid chain-through said circuit in timed relation at a constant speed, and a series of cam elements carried by the respective links, said elements being operative to define a continuous cam surface extending in the direction of movement of the chain, the trailing end of each said, cam element being offset to one side of the leading end of an immediately following element to avoid interference therewith as said elements are disposed in overlapping relation incident to flexing of the chain around said rotary elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,496 Miller May 3, 1932 2,256,117 Keeley Sept. 16, 1941 2,495,462 Lassiter Ian. 24, 1950 2,687,936 Cooper et al. Aug. 31, 1954 2,691,485 Kennedy Oct. 12, 1954 2,741,107 Garner et al. Apr. 10, 1956 

